FVRA Committee Minutes May 2024

Findon Valley Residents' Association

Protecting the interests of our community and the countryside around us

www.fvra.org.uk

Tuesday 14th May: Findon Valley Free Church

In attendance

Lorraine Taylor (LT) Clive Sanders (CS) Paula Barnes (PB) Neil Worsfold (NW) Sean Philip (SP) Denise Edwards (DE)

Apologies

Chloe Paddock (CP) Terry Field (TF)

Minutes of last meeting and Matters Arising

The Minutes of April meeting were agreed with no matters arising.
The Minutes and a copy of the Constitution are to be held in the Findon Valley Library.
No matters arising from officers’ reports.
CS has agreed to become the contact for the Charity Commission.
The committee resolved that the Charity Commission online administrator role for Findon Valley Residents’ Association should change from Thomas Lance Allen (former chair and trustee) to Clive Sanders (treasurer and trustee), as Mr. Allen has now stepped down from committee and trusteeship after a full term as chair.
The FVRA Constitution is now on the Charity Commission website.

Treasurer’s Report

April 2024 Current Account Balance £4,069.07. Gross accounts total £13,432.40

Membership Secretary

April 2024 Total members 368 including 4 new members.

Schools Liaison

Vale School children will attend 2 more gardening sessions before the end of the summer term.
Eco-Warriors will be involved in Community Allotment designing Bug Hotels
PB/LT to provide annual Tea Party on Gallops 05/07/24 13:45.
It was agreed we will display St John the Baptist School Summer Fair posters on our notice-boards.
Jacqui Jenkins has asked for a stall at the Christmas Extravaganza, agreed.

Friends of Findon Valley

Work Party, David and MW mulched the fruit trees in the community orchard which are looking good and have flowered well.
Meeting with the council was useful with various commitments made to include FVRA and Friends in policy and practical care of Cissbury Fields.
Vale school children came and helped at the community garden despite poor weather.
Tuesday session helping with the troughs and beds on the road verge was well attended and good work done.
MW had a meeting with David Tow, headmaster at Vale school and have agreed to formulate a plan for a small woodland garden in the grounds for children to get close to nature. Senso-ry planting, a firepit and winding paths through trees and shrubs are planned.
Next work party is this Saturday 18th when we will continue to clear off the pathway to-wards the cemetery on the west side of the A24, meet at the store by the toilets 10am.

Webmaster’s Report

SP showed new website to committee and asked for feedback. It was decided to add more colour blocks to menu dropdown options to make it easier to navigate and have more impact. The new FVRA logo will be used on documents, the old square logo will be kept for the bank account.
Newsletters, all minutes, The Constitution and surveys can be added to website easily.
The “Contact us” feature will allow a nominated person to receive all emails instead of individual committee members.
Event tickets can be sold on the website. The money will go to the CAF account. Wix will take a small fee which will be included in ticket pricing.
SP will send a link to new website for final approval to all committee members. Aim for 1st June for website to go live.
SP will add events to Facebook.

Chair's Report

High Salvington Mill have declined to lend FVRA their traditional games to be used at the market due to lack of volunteers to help with setting up etc.
Ed Mitchell PCSO and Councillor Nigel Morgan will be available for questions from the community in the library on Tuesday 21st May 3pm to 4pm.
Bioblitz Day Saturday 25th May. AWC meeting at Storrington Rise at 10am to carry out a survey of local nature e.g. birds, flowers, reptiles.
Market Sunday 28th May - Will include a “Where’s Wally? game and Then and Now photos.
Library Noticeboard. This has become difficult to unlock it was agreed to research a replacement. LT to talk to WSCC about a size etc. NW to look at costs.
The Vale School Fair Friday 12th July 4pm. FVRA has a free stall. PB suggested making fridge magnets as a craft activity £1 each. Past and present photos of the local area to be displayed. Volunteers needed to help run the stall, transport equipment and to set up.
PB to submit form to school requesting pitch.
Dog Show Sunday 21st July the Gallops LT and PB met with Sheila from Umbrella Events to discuss facilitating her running a dog show on the The Gallops. LT attended an event run by Sheila to see how it was organised and set up and was impressed by the way it went. Sheila will submit the necessary forms to the council, plan the day, organise the dog show, invite stall holders, advertise the event. She has already produced a poster advertising the event. FVRA need to provide parking mar-shalls and complete litter picking afterwards. Sheila will ask council if the grass will be cut for easier access.
It was agreed to go ahead, and it will be a jointly run / advertised as FVRA and Umbrella Events day.
PB to talk to The Vale school if the car park and toilets can be used on the day and see if the school would like a free stall.
LT to contact Pat and Andrea (previous event organisers) to see if they can offer help on the day. LT will approach local vets to see if they would like to sponsor the dog show in some way.
SP to advertise event on website.
Classic Car Event - It was agreed that this event will not go ahead this year.
Community Orchard Picnic Saturday 10th August 11am to 3pm. AWC are thrilled that orchard is planted and is thriving. The local community will be invited to attend the picnic bringing their own food (no BBQs). Emily the local ranger is willing to offer guided nature walks on the day, LT to research getting an ice cream van to attend and a band to provide some music.
Recycling Plant visit at Ford Wednesday 28th August - This event will be advertised on the website, a maximum of 10 people can attend.
Wiston Estate Winery tour. LT will investigate booking Friday 13th September. It will cost £20 per head with a maxi-mum of 10 people to complete a tour and tasting. The restaurant will be open for lunch on the day as an option.
SP to advertise event on website which can also manage bookings.
Open Garden event - A garden in Plantation Rise will open for visits at a cost of £5 per head for a maximum of 10 people. LT to liaise with resident and book a date.
FVRA 5K Sunday 8th September - LT and SP met with Julia Griggs from Foxy Ladies running group who has set the course. SP showed a map of the route which will include roads and fields. Starting point is Lime Tree Surgery and will go up Coombe Rise. FVRA will marshall crossing points. Residents in the roads affected will need to be informed and possibly leafleted advertising the event. There will be a “Mini Mile” event for children beforehand.
Julia will contact Russ Cook the Hardest Geezer to see if he can attend.
First Aiders will be in attendance including Doctors from the surgery.
LT to approach Jacobs Bagels to see if they would attend, cakes will be offered, and a water-ing station will need to be set up.
Jacobs Steele has been approached to sponsor the event. It was agreed that Michael Jones should be approached for future event.
CP needs details of event for insurance cover.
Christmas Market Thursday 12th December 4.30pm to 7,30pm - After a discussion about alternative locations, it was agreed that it will be on Kings Parade. It was agreed that the FVFC would be used as a bad weather contingency.
LT to talk to Sharon Leppard (market organiser) about number of stalls.
LT to contact Umbrella events about children’s activities/ rides.
There will be a Grotto with Father Christmas.
FVRA will organise road closure.
Community Allotment - Lime tree Surgery has agreed to work in partnership with FVRA to develop part of the surgery garden - LT informed the committee that local resident, Elaine Marshall has offered to design an allotment and therapeutic garden for the community. An application for funding from AWC was submitted on 16/05/24.
FV History Project - Item to be moved to next meeting as TF could not attend.

Date of next meeting

Tuesday 11th June 7pm FVFC